HR API

The Unified HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems) API enables developers and product managers to access HR data from multiple HR platforms through a single, standardized interface. Retrieve employee information, groups, locations, benefits, payroll, time off, and more from BambooHR, Workday, ADP, and other major HRIS platforms - all with one API.

What is the Unified HRIS API?

HRIS platforms like BambooHR, Workday, and ADP each have unique APIs with different authentication methods, data models, and endpoints. The Unified HRIS API normalizes these differences, allowing you to build once and support all major HR platforms without maintaining separate integrations for each provider.

HRIS solutions mostly deal with employees and their groups. Groups represent collections of personnel at a company and may have different labels depending on the company type and size (departments, teams, divisions, etc.).

Key Benefits for Developers

• Single Integration: Write code once to support BambooHR, Workday, ADP, and more - no need to learn multiple HRIS APIs
• Normalized Data Models: Work with consistent employee, group, and HR data structures across all platforms
• Real-Time Data Access: Every request hits the source API live with no caching, ensuring you always have up-to-date employee data
• Zero Maintenance: No need to track API version changes or deprecations across multiple HR platforms
• Faster Development: Ship HRIS integration features in days instead of months of integration work

Benefits for Product Managers

• Multi-Platform Support: Offer customers the ability to connect their preferred HR platform without custom development
• Competitive Advantage: Launch with support for all major HRIS platforms while competitors build integrations one at a time
• Customer Flexibility: Allow customers to access their employee data from BambooHR, Workday, or any supported HRIS through your product
• Reduced Time-to-Market: Get HR integration features to market quickly without waiting for engineering to build multiple integrations
• Scalable Product Strategy: Easily add new HRIS platforms as they emerge without significant engineering resources

HRIS Data Objects

The HRIS API provides access to the following standardized objects:

• Benefits: Health insurance, retirement plans, and employee benefits
• Companies: Organization information and company entities
• Deductions: Payroll deductions and withholdings
• Devices: Company-issued devices and equipment assigned to employees
• Employees: Employee profiles, contact information, and employment details
• Groups: Departments, teams, divisions, and organizational units
• Locations: Office locations, work sites, and geographic information
• Payslips: Pay stubs and payroll information
• Time Off: Vacation, sick leave, PTO requests and balances
• Time Shifts: Work schedules, shifts, and time tracking

Common Use Cases

Employee Directory & Org Charts

Build employee directories and organizational charts that sync with customers' HRIS systems. Display current employee information, reporting structures, departments, and contact details from BambooHR, Workday, or any supported platform.

Identity & Access Management

Automate user provisioning and de-provisioning by syncing with HRIS employee data. Automatically create accounts when employees are hired, update permissions when they change roles, and revoke access when they leave.

Benefits Administration

Create benefits enrollment and management tools that integrate with HRIS platforms. Access employee benefit information, eligibility, and enrollment status across multiple HR systems.

Time & Attendance Tracking

Build time tracking and attendance tools that sync with HRIS systems. Access employee schedules, time off balances, and shift information to create comprehensive workforce management solutions.

Payroll Integration

Connect payroll systems with HRIS data. Access employee information, deductions, and pay schedules to automate payroll processing and reporting.

HR Analytics & Reporting

Pull employee data from HRIS platforms into analytics tools. Create custom HR reports, analyze workforce trends, track turnover, and generate insights from employee data across multiple HR systems.

Onboarding & Offboarding Automation

Automate employee onboarding and offboarding workflows by accessing HRIS data. Trigger workflows when new employees are added or when employees are terminated, ensuring consistent processes across all HR platforms.

Supported HRIS Platforms

The Unified HRIS API supports integration with major HR platforms including BambooHR, Workday, ADP, Namely, Gusto, Rippling, Personio, and many others. Each integration provides access to the standardized data objects listed above.

Why Use a Unified HRIS API?

Traditional Approach:

• Build separate integrations for BambooHR, Workday, ADP, etc.
• Learn 5+ different authentication systems and API specifications
• Maintain code for 5+ different API endpoints, data formats, and error handling patterns
• Monitor and update integrations when any platform deprecates or changes their API
• Handle platform-specific employee data structures and field mappings

With Unified HRIS API:

• Integrate once with a single API that works across all HRIS platforms
• Use one authentication flow for all platforms
• Work with normalized employee, group, and HR data objects
• Automatic handling of API changes, rate limits, and platform-specific differences
• Built-in webhook support for real-time employee data updates

Integration Scenarios

For SaaS Applications

Add "Connect Your HR System" features that work with any major HRIS platform. Build productivity tools, collaboration software, or workforce management solutions without building separate integrations for each HR platform.

For IT & Security Tools

Automate identity and access management by syncing with HRIS employee data. Provision user accounts, manage permissions, and enforce security policies based on current employee status and organizational structure.

For AI & Automation Tools

Create AI-powered HR assistants that can access employee data, analyze workforce patterns, generate insights, and provide recommendations across multiple platforms using a single API.

For Analytics & BI Platforms

Pull HR data from all major platforms into your data warehouse or analytics tool. Create unified workforce reports, retention dashboards, and headcount analytics without building multiple data pipelines.

For Benefits Providers

Connect benefits administration with customers' HRIS systems. Automatically sync employee eligibility, enrollment data, and coverage information between benefits platforms and HR systems.

Real-Time, Live Data

Unlike other integration platforms that cache data or run periodic sync jobs, the Unified HRIS API provides real-time access to HR data. Every API request hits the source platform directly, ensuring you always have the most current employee information.

This real-time architecture is ideal for:

• Employee directories with up-to-date contact information
• Real-time user provisioning and de-provisioning
• Current organizational charts and reporting structures
• Automated workflows that react to employee changes instantly

Privacy & Security

Unified.to never stores your customers' employee data. All requests are stateless and pass through to the HRIS platforms directly. Traffic is regionalized (US/EU/AU) to comply with data residency requirements.